Laying puppies on their backs to socialize??

 I would see that as a very GOOD thing... the more people that handle them, the more ways they get moved around, means they will be better suited for many different types of homes.

Casey does not like his feet rubbed, I cannot flip him over on his back - he gets very stressed. Had this been done as a young pup, we wouldn't have these problems.

Getting a pup on his back can also help relax him - when they get too worked up.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts!  I'm always up for learning new things, even when they sounded crazy to start with!  That's what is great about this forum - the variety of knowledge and perspectives!

glenmar

While I do understand what Gina and Lies are saying, I still don't agree with this handling of shelter pups.  I honestly don't think 3-4 minute sessions, particularly with one he doesn't like being on his back, are helpful.  Handling pups, exposing them to all sorts of different stimuli and experiences, yep, couldn't agree more, but......

Not ideal, but better than nothing, IMO.  At our shelter, puppies are basically in quarantine.  They have their own sets of volunteers.  For example, I have never been in the puppy room at the shelter because I touch adult dogs.  We had a local parvo outbreak two summers ago so they take it very seriously.  You'd think the pups would get a LOT of attention b/c they are so fun and cute, but they really don't because they are quarantined.  They are not removed from the room and only a few people are allowed to go in.  Now, they are all adopted fairly quickly (always more demand for pups than supply), but the handling while in the shelter is limited.

Now the neuro stim kind of stuff isn't really going to matter at this age, but handling definitely does.  I got Nikon at 7.5 weeks and you bet I spent 3-4 minutes each day doing handling and restraint exercise.  He went from shrieking bloody murder when simply being held to look in his ears to the *best* of my three dogs when it comes to any sort of restraint.  I can pick him up, flip him on his side, trim his nails, clean teeth or ears, pill him, etc with no mouthiness or struggles.  Considering his temperament and how he was when I got him, I don't think that would be the case if I never did those restraint exercises as a puppy.

I guess it's the amount of time and the lack of consistency that bothers me.  And perhaps I heard something that wasn't there...that because of the breed they are timebombs waiting to explode.

Yes, I saw the same thing in Northern MI.....pittes being sold out of the back of the truck at Walmart.......maddening!

sharismom

I think the difficult part is that there are many people handling the pups and they may not all do it in the exact same way.  Not that being handled by a lot of people is bad, but the consistency thing is what I mean.

This'd definitely be an issue BUT I do want to say I think it is POSITIVE that the shelter is even bothering to TRY to socialize a litter of PB pups. Because in many other situations they'd simply be euthanized. The heart of the idea, is good...and perhaps just a nudge towards a better execution of the idea..is what's needed. I applaud their goal...well socialized ADOPTABLE, puppies.

Good point, Gina.  I hadn't even thought of the "it's a pit, euthanize" angle.  This is the first shelter I've ever volunteered at and, if nothing else, they do not automatically euthanize any dog that comes in because of breed. 

 Actually, so long as people are gentle, I'm inclined to favor "inconsistency" in handling, if you mean that lots and lots of people are handling the pups.  My biggest concern, with Pit pups, is that they get to play with other dogs a LOT as puppies, which can help them have less of a hair trigger when they are older (although I'm not a big fan of them continuing to play after puberty - too many times, I've seen horrible results just due to that genetic predisposition to not like other dogs). 

Both your posts were excellent, Anne.  I definitely learned something new from you, Gina, & Liesje.

I would have to agree with RW and Anne in this case. Perhaps it's not the best way to go about doing it, but I am happy that they are actually trying...with the caveat that they are doing it in a "socialization so this dog will find a forever home" way rather than a "I am boss over you and you shall submit to me puppy!!!!!" attitude. We've always handled pups from birth....and laying on their back was always part of it, such that every puppy is comfortable being on its back from a young age. It makes it so easy to perform routine procedures!!!

I see clear differences in dogs that were taught to do it, and dogs that were not, when you are struggling to try to convince a 55 lb dog to lay down for routine nail clipping and it is flailing and panicking because it doesn't not know what you are trying to do. Pair that with a breed of dog with a shaky future and it may not be a good situation.